Osprey hit with ball dies in Florida

April 29, 2003

The osprey hit with a baseball allegedly thrown by a minor-league pitcher in Daytona Beach, Fla., has died, officials said. Ozzy the osprey died Sunday at the Audubon Birds of Prey Center in Maitland. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officials said the death doesn't affect charges against Cubs minor-league pitcher Jae Kuk Ryu.

KEEP ME OUT OF THE BALLGAME: Attendance is down throughout the major leagues, slipping 4.8 percent through Sunday's games when compared with a similar point last year. This comes on top of a 6 percent decline for the 2002 season.

Twenty-one of 30 teams are running behind their per-game averages from last April. Atlanta is averaging 24,133, down 21 percent. Cleveland is down 30.7 percent; Milwaukee, 30.5 percent.

Observers cite the war, economy and ticket and concession prices as factors.

GOODBYE SHANE: Shane Matthews gave up a lot of money to sign with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs showed their gratitude by giving up on him. The team cut the former Bears quarterback as it began paring down its roster for this weekend's mandatory mini-camp.

APPLE OF IRISH EYES: Russell Carter, a 6-foot-4, 190-pound guard from Paulsboro (N.J.) High School, has signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Notre Dame. Carter, whom Irish coach Mike Brey described as "a pure wing player, an athlete who can shoot," averaged 30 points and 11.2 rebounds as a senior.

CANE CONTROVERSY: Miami QB Derrick Crudup Jr., who claimed race played a role in the decision to give a teammate the starting job, met with head coach Larry Coker and assistant Dan Werner, who allegedly made racially insensitive comments, to discuss the issue. Crudup is black. The specifics of the agreement will be released Tuesday.